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James L. Swanson

20books in catalog
Most common themes

HistoryUnited StatesBiography & AutobiographyJuvenile Nonfiction20th CenturyLaw & Crime

About this author’s books

These books offer a focused and detailed reading experience centered on pivotal historical events involving high-profile assassinations and their aftermaths. The narrative unfolds with a steady rhythm that balances factual depth and suspense, guiding readers through investigations and manhunts with clear, chronological clarity. The tone remains serious and grounded, engaging readers through real-life drama rather than speculative or fictionalized elements.

Common threads

  • Chronological storytelling that follows investigations and legal proceedings step-by-step.
  • Focus on real historical figures and events, emphasizing cause and effect in crime and punishment.
  • Careful pacing that builds tension through the unfolding of manhunts and trials.
  • Consistent use of detailed factual accounts to maintain a documentary-style tone.
  • Resolution often centers on the conclusion of legal processes or the capture of key individuals.

Good fit if you like

  • Following a clear, linear progression of events without narrative detours.
  • Engaging with real historical details and procedural aspects of crime and justice.
  • Reading with a focus on factual accuracy and restrained storytelling tone.
  • Experiencing tension through real-world stakes rather than fictional suspense.
  • Understanding the broader social and political context through focused case studies.

Not ideal if…

  • You prefer narratives with multiple viewpoints or experimental structures.
  • You seek heavily dramatized or fictionalized retellings of historical events.
  • Your reading habit leans toward fast-paced, plot-driven thrillers with frequent twists.

Generated from the books currently available in this catalog.

Publishers of James L. Swanson

HarperCollinsScholastic PressHarper CollinsWilliam MorrowPortraitSimon and SchusterHarper Perennial Feb-01-2007Scholastic, Incorporated
  • Manhunt The 12-day Chase for Abraham Lincoln’s Killer — James L. Swanson

    Manhunt The 12-day Chase for Abraham Lincoln’s Killer — James L. Swanson

  • Chasing Lincoln’s Killer — James L. Swanson

    Chasing Lincoln’s Killer — James L. Swanson

  • End of Days The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

    End of Days The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

  • End of Days The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

    End of Days The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

  • End of Days The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

    End of Days The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

  • Bloody Crimes LP The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse — James L. Swanson

    Bloody Crimes LP The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse — James L. Swanson

  • Bloody Times The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis — James L. Swanson

    Bloody Times The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis — James L. Swanson

  • Bloody Times The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis — James L. Swanson

    Bloody Times The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis — James L. Swanson

  • Lincoln’s Assassins: Their Trial and Execution — James L. Swanson

    Lincoln’s Assassins: Their Trial and Execution — James L. Swanson

  • Bloody Crimes: The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse — James L. Swanson

    Bloody Crimes: The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse — James L. Swanson

  • Manhunt The 12-Day Chase to Catch Lincoln’s Kill — James L. Swanson

    Manhunt The 12-Day Chase to Catch Lincoln’s Kill — James L. Swanson

  • Manhunt The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer — James L. Swanson

    Manhunt The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer — James L. Swanson

  • Bloody Crimes The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Chase for Jefferson Davis — James L. Swanson

    Bloody Crimes The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and the Chase for Jefferson Davis — James L. Swanson

  • “The President Has Been Shot” The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

    “The President Has Been Shot” The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

  • The Deerfield Massacre A Surprise Attack, a Forced March, and the Fight for Survival in Early America — James L. Swanson

    The Deerfield Massacre A Surprise Attack, a Forced March, and the Fight for Survival in Early America — James L. Swanson

  • [ [ [ Manhunt: The Twelve-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer[ MANHUNT: THE TWELVE-DAY CHASE FOR LINCOLN’S KILLER ] By Swanson, James L. ( Author )Feb-01-2007 Paperback — James L. Swanson

    [ [ [ Manhunt: The Twelve-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer[ MANHUNT: THE TWELVE-DAY CHASE FOR LINCOLN’S KILLER ] By Swanson, James L. ( Author )Feb-01-2007 Paperback — James L. Swanson

  • Chasing King’s Killer The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassin — James L. Swanson

    Chasing King’s Killer The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassin — James L. Swanson

  • The President Has Been Shot!: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

    The President Has Been Shot!: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy — James L. Swanson

  • Lincoln’s Assassins Their Trial and Execution — James L. Swanson

    Lincoln’s Assassins Their Trial and Execution — James L. Swanson

  • Chasing Lincoln’s Killer — James L. Swanson

    Chasing Lincoln’s Killer — James L. Swanson